How can I recover data from a damaged DVD or CD?
5 Ways to Repair a CD or DVD
- Clean the disc using a soft lint-free cloth and a dab of warm water and mild detergent.
- Fill scratches with toothpaste.
- Soften scratches with heat from a 60W lightbulb.
- Fill the scratch with a wax-based product.
- Cover holes in the data layer with pen and tape.
How do you copy a scratched DVD and CD?
The following methods might help, but are not guaranteed to work and may further damage the disc, so try them on your own risk.
- Clean your damaged DVD.
- Fill the scratches on DVD with oil-based or wax-based substances.
- Correct the scratches on DVD with heat.
- Resurface your DVD.
Can a broken CD be recovered?
Broken CDs and DVDs are usually beyond salvage. If you’re desperate enough to try to recover a cracked disc’s data, use an old CD or DVD drive you no longer need. If you’re trying to copy the CD to another disc, set your software to read the cracked CD at the slowest possible speed.
How do you fix a deep scratched DVD?
Clean the disc with warm water, soap, and a cloth and then dry it, making sure that no lint is left behind. Squeeze toothpaste onto the disc and rub it on the disc in a straight motion from the center out to the edges. Finally, wash off the toothpaste and dry the disc. It should work now!
Can you fix a cracked DVD?
You can use wax and polish and sometimes glue and tape to repair a scratched or broken DVD. Deep scratches may not be repairable, and may require professional help. Discs broken into two or more pieces are generally not repairable.
Can you fix a CD broken in half?
Broken CD or DVD is Not Repairable If the CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disc has broken into two pieces, the disc is not repairable, cannot be fixed, and is a lost disc. You cannot glue the disc back together and expect it to be playable.
How can you fix scratches on a DVD?
Apply a small dab of white toothpaste or metal polish to a clean, lint-free (ie fluff-free) cloth and rub very gently along the scratch from the disc’s centre outwards. Cover the full length of the scratch, then repeat twice for good measure.